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One of my bargains from the Presto Classical super-sale, bought for Daniella Barcellona as Adalgisa and she didn't disappoint, Ildar Abdrakazov very good too, and June Anderson warmed up eventually. But the tenor, dearie dearie me, was either on a cocktail of downers or had learned the role phonetically and didn't have a clue what he was singing - quite the blankest and dullest performance I have ever seen, which is amazing considering how many awkward situations Pollione gets himself into.

Then I tried to watch this on Youtube.

I like the music, and the production looked intriguing, with giant puppet heads and a rather dark grotesque feel, but the video direction was so utterly appalling, lots of abrupt shifts and close ups which which are so WRONG for this kind of large-scale production, that I gave up in acute irritation.

So ended up watching Busoni's Arlecchino on Youtube instead (rather a mad one-acter with a lot of parody elements. This version was in Italian which is great because there was a lot of spoken dialogue and no subtitles and my Italian is much better than the original German.

... But the tenor, dearie dearie me, was either on a cocktail of downers or had learned the role phonetically and didn't have a clue what he was singing - quite the blankest and dullest performance I have ever seen, which is amazing considering how many awkward situations Pollione gets himself into.

He was very bad, indeed. Painfully inadequate. But it was a late minute replacement.

Hey, and think that in the old days of Talk Classical, you were a fierce opponent of my assessment of Rossini as a musical genius.

Dude wrote in two decades many great Operas (some masterpiece were created in the span of a few weeks).
Then he retired to enjoy life when other composers died on the bed while trying to finish their last Opera (or even the very first).
So you may not call him a musical genius, but a genius is for sure :-)

Alma there is Ciro in Babilonia tonight on Rai 5.

EDIT:
BTW Alma is this any good? (it's cheap)

Originally Posted by Soave_Fanciulla

So ended up watching Busoni's Arlecchino on Youtube instead (clicky) rather a mad one-acter with a lot of parody elements. This version was in Italian which is great because there was a lot of spoken dialogue and no subtitles and my Italian is much better than the original German.

Dude wrote in two decades many great Operas (some masterpiece were created in the span of a few weeks).
Then he retired to enjoy life when other composers died on the bed while trying to finish their last Opera (or even the very first).
So you may not call him a musical genius, but a genius is for sure :-)

Alma there is Ciro in Babilonia tonight on Rai 5.

Will give a try.

Lucio Dalla was the director!?

Bardamu, unfortunately in America I don't get RAI 5. Enjoy, and tell us how it was, and post a review in the Italian area as well (we really need to get the Italian area going!)

Well, anyway, I have a concert to attend tonight, with Anthony Roth Costanzo and the Brussels Chamber Orchestra, so even if the link works, I'll have to pass. What do I think of that Ermione? I LOVE IT!!! Buy, buy, buy! It's sublime! Ana Caterina Antonacci is spectacular on this DVD! And this is my favorite Rossini opera.

Well, anyway, I have a concert to attend tonight, with Anthony Roth Costanzo and the Brussels Chamber Orchestra, so even if the link works, I'll have to pass. What do I think of that Ermione? I LOVE IT!!! Buy, buy, buy! It's sublime! Ana Caterina Antonacci is spectacular on this DVD! And this is my favorite Rossini opera.

Great, will buy then.

The first act has just ended.
Very cool the mute cinema scenography.
It's apparent this was one of his first Operas.